Dwyane Wade: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on SG's Future
With the Miami Heat knocked out of the playoffs, Dwyane Wade is preparing for another summer as a free agent.
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Report: Heat May Ask Wade for Reduced Salary
Wednesday, May 18
Per Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald, the Heat could ask Wade to take another team-friendly deal as they look to keep Hassan Whiteside and Luol Deng and explore potential interest in free agent Kevin Durant.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, per Navarro, Wade didn't play any cards through the media: "I think I’ve been around long enough not to expect anything going into the summer."
Things got contentious between Wade and the Heat last summer when the two sides were negotiating a new deal.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported last May that the Heat felt "paying him what he’s seeking would dramatically reduce [their] flexibility to add additional players during the summers of 2016 and 2017."
Jackson noted Wade opted out of the final two years of his contract that had $41.6 million remaining the previous year as the Heat were trying to keep LeBron James—who ultimately went back to the Cleveland Cavaliers—and that he was seeking a new three-year deal.
Wade and the Heat reached a compromise when he signed a one-year deal worth $20 million that gave him the opportunity to become a free agent this summer. USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reported the NBA's salary cap is expected to hit $92 million next season.
The 34-year-old Wade picked a good time to hit free agency. He played in 74 games last season, his highest total since 2010-11, and averaged 19 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Wade's shooting percentage has decreased over the last two seasons without James around, dipping to a career-low 45.6 in 2015-16.
Any interested team, including the Heat, is aware of the limitations with Wade's game at this point. He's still a tremendous talent who can ask for a huge contract, though he may have to settle for another short-term deal because of his age and near-constant injury concerns.
